Ruling on Moving the Index Finger Between the Two Prostrations in Prayer
Source: Fatāwā Arkān-e-Islām
Evidence from Authentic Hadith
Yes — there is a sahih hadith on this matter. In Sahih Muslim (Kitāb al-Masājid, Bāb Ṣifat al-Julūs fī al-Ṣalāh, Hadith 580, No. 115), it is narrated from ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar (رضي الله عنهما):
“When the Prophet ﷺ sat in prayer, he would point with his index finger.”
General vs. Specific Narrations
- Another narration mentions: “When he sat in tashahhud.”
- The first narration is general, while the second specifies a particular instance.
- In uṣūl al-fiqh, a general statement followed by a specific example does not cancel the general ruling unless there is an explicit restriction.
- Example: Saying “Respect students” and later saying “Respect Zaid” (who is a student) does not mean other students are excluded.
Specific Hadith for Between the Two Sajdahs
Imam Ahmad narrates in Musnad Ahmad with a chain graded ḥasan (by Ṣāḥib al-Fatḥ al-Rabbānī) and even ṣaḥīḥ by some commentators of Zād al-Maʿād:
«اَنَّ رَسُوْلَ اللّٰهِ كَانَ اِذَا جَلَسَ بَيْنَ السَّجْدَتَيْنِ قَبَضَ اَصَابِعَهُ وَاَشَارَ بِالسَّبَّابَةِ»
“When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ sat between the two prostrations, he would close his fingers and point with the index finger.”
(Musnad Ahmad 4/318; Tamām al-Minnah, p. 214)
Challenge to Those Who Deny It
If someone says the index finger should not be moved between the two sajdahs, they must clarify: What should be done with the right hand then?
- If they say “spread it on the thigh,” they must produce evidence for that.
- No sahih hadith proves that the Prophet ﷺ spread his right hand on his thigh in this position.
- The sahih narrations mention only spreading the left hand on the left thigh.
Conclusion
- The authentic narrations support pointing with the index finger between the two prostrations.
- This is consistent with the general practice of moving the finger at times of duʿāʾ within the prayer.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
